I can't believe this is my last wardrobe update of the year! That went by so fast! I spent a little bit less this year compared to last year, if we don't count my Chloé Faye splurge (which I saved for each month.) I spent a LOT less if we don't count my Gucci sunglasses (the money for that came out of my vacation account, not regular spending *wink wink*)

I didn't buy anything this month but I did add some new items to my wardrobe thanks to Christmas gifts! My mom got me two sweaters and a pair of jeans from Everlane.

P.S. If you want to learn more about how I manage my money, head over to this post: {opinion} How I Handle Personal Finance!



THE (modified) RULES

1. Be mindful of purchases 
2. Quality over quantity
3. Basics are best

MY PROGRESS 

Clothes:

1. She Made Me Essential crocheted swimsuit via Net-a-Porter ($45, $150 retail,  Xmas $$)
2. G.H. Bass burgundy cardigan at Clinton Crossing ($0,  $7.5 w/coupon, $99 retail) 
3. G.H. Bass cargo pants at Clinton Crossing ($0,  $21 w/coupon, $69 retail)  
4. Disney Mickey tee ($10 at Target)
5. Who What Wear x Target Sleeveless Floral Dress ($30) 
6. Uniqlo Mickey Mouse sweatshirt ($30) 
7. Proenza Schouler tweed colorblock shorts via Roundabout ($57, $1680 retail)
8. Vintage Havana Floral Embroidered Sweater via Pearls & Plaid ($50, used gift card) 
9. Context Three-Quarter Bell Sleeve sweater via Lord & Taylor ($20, retail $68, used renters insurance refund)
10. J.Crew Cardigan sweater with cosmic embroidery ($39, retail $110, used gift card)

Basics:

1. Calypso St. Barth Gylden Cashmere Sweater via Gilt ($71, $295 retail, Xmas $$)
2. M.i.h Jeans Tomboy cropped jeans via Net-a-Porter ($98, $245 retail, Xmas $$)
3. Who What Wear x Target bodysuit ($14, $20 retail) 
4. FRAME Ribbed wool & cashmere-blend sweater via Net-a-Porter ($104, $325 retail,  advertising $$) 
5. Alice + Olivia blue striped cashmere sweater via Roundabout ($25, $368? retail)
6. Everlane "Square Tee" in Burgundy ($18) 
7. Everlane "The High-Rise Skinny Jean" in Mid-Blue ($68)
8. Everlane "The Cotton Tee" in Rose ($15, used renters insurance credit)
9. Everlane "The Cashmere Crop V-Neck" in Black ($100, $62 after insurance credit) 
10. Everlane "The Mid-Rise Skinny Jean" in black (Christmas gift)
11. Everlane "The Wool-Cashmere Oversized Cable Turtleneck" in Surplus (Christmas gift)
12. Everlane "The Wool-Cashmere Square Crew" in Crimson (Christmas gift)

Shoes:

1. Miu Miu ankle boots via Roundabout Resale - also here/here ($146,  $850 retail)
2. New Look Metallic Block Heel sandal via ASOS ($35, advertising $$) 
3. BCBGeneration 'Beverly' mule via Saks Off 5th at Clinton Crossing ($0,  $110 retail)  
4. Impo 'Omega' boot (or Onnie, can't tell) via DSW ($12, $112 retail - in black) 
5. Vince 'Mason' in pony fig via DSW ($23, $275+ retail) 
6. Nicholas Kirkwood suede prism pumps via Net-a-Porter sale ($250, $625 retail) 
7. Sam Edelman Lars slub satin espadrille slide via Net-a-Porter sale ($36, $90 retail)
8. Zigi Soho Velvet Floral Embroidered Open Toe Mules via T.J. Maxx ($20, retail $60?, used gift card) 
9. BCBGeneragion Yerra slip on sneaker (birthday gift, $79 retail)
10. Kelly & Katie Amour mule (birthday gift, $50 retail)

Bags:

1. Disney x Coach 'Patricia' with Mickey ears ($179 at Coach Outlet, $395 retail)
2. Chloe 'Faye' in Dark Purple via eBay ($1500, $1950 retail) 
3. Louis Vuitton 'Epi Sac D'Epaule' via HauteTrader ($0, retail $1600?)

 
Accessories:

1. Tommy Hilfiger (similar) via Clinton Crossing ($0,  retail $?)  
2. Mejuri Loop Earrings by Jamie! ($55)
3. Gucci aviator sunglasses ($300, bought in Rome)
4. Birthstone Star and Mickey Mouse ring ($15 with discount, used advertising $$) 
5. Birthstone Mickey Mouse earrings ($15 with discount, used advertising $$)

Gifted from Brands:

1. IRO Faxy Cropped Jean via Gilt c/o Wikibuy (retail $285)
2. Banana Republic Peplum Sweater c/o Banana Republic Factory at Clinton Crossing
3. Banana Republic Cherry Blossom 'Ryan' Pant c/o Banana Republic Factory
4. Banana Republic 'Sloan' in purple c/o Banana Republic Factory
5. Banana Republic ruffle sleeve top in teal c/o Banana Republic Factory
6. Banana Republic linen shorts c/o Banana Republic Factory 
7. Diane von Furstenberg Fanny dress (also here) c/o HauteTrader 
8. Missoni Purple Wool Chevron Metallic Knit Sweater Dress  c/o HauteTrader 

Total spent in December: $0

Total spent in 2017:  $1253 - $953 not counting the sunglasses*
Total spent including Chloe Faye: $2,753 - $2,453 not counting sunglasses
Total spent with Christmas/advertising money included: $3136 - $2836 not counting sunglasses

*the money for the sunglasses came out of my vacations savings account rather than "regular" money

I got this really comfy Everlane sweater for Christmas and decided to wear it to Grandma's for our Christmas day celebrations. I dressed it up a bit with these burgundy velvet pants so the outfit felt a bit more holiday.  Perfect for a day of relaxing and eating tons of tasty food.

Sweater: Everlane "The Wool-Cashmere Oversized Cable Turtleneck" in Surplus (Christmas gift), Pants: Elie Tahari 'Shea Velvet Pants' (Shopbop), Leopard Pumps: Jimmy Choo (Roundabout)

Dress: Missoni Purple Wool Chevron Metallic Knit Sweater Dress (HauteTrader), Faux Fur Vest: French Connection (Marshalls), Boots: Gianvito Rossi 'Finlay' (Marshalls), Earrings: Mejuri loop earrings

Happy almost Christmas! I hope everyone has a lovely holiday and weekend. Mine is going to be full of family and friends. I'm extending the break through New Years (mostly because my clients will also be taking time off.) I'll have a bit of work but will be able to do a LOT of relaxing.

This Monday, Nonee of CT Blogger Babes hosted a wonderful holiday soiree for Connecticut bloggers! Having gone to their smaller brunch back in July, I knew this would be a great event so it was worth the hour drive. It was held at Flora, a vegan restaurant/bar, in West Hartford. I was worried about the vegan aspect since I'm a picky eater but luckily they had some chicken and fish options for those of us who eat meat. My favorite bite was their vegetable fried rice, I even took a bunch home in a doggy bag and had it with dinner the next night!

This crimson Altuzarra for Target embroidered dress is perfect for holiday get together. The color is gorgeous and I love the detailing up top. I've had the dress for a little over 3 years and I still get compliments on it.

Dress: Altuzarra for Target embroidered pleated georgette dress, Merino Tights c/o Wolford (also here), Patent Leather and Pony Hair Boots: 3.1 Phillip Lim 'Peggy' Ankle Boot (Barneys Warehouse), Bag: Dark Purple Chloé Faye (eBay), Earrings: Mejuri 'Loop' by Jamie-Lee, Coat: DKNY (old)

Our last day was a crazy day! We had flights at 8 and 8:30 so we knew we had to leave Animal Kingdom by 4 and we had a lot to get through. We wanted to ride both of the new Pandora rides and knew we would probably have to wait in a super long lines; they are usually around 2 or 3 hours, OR MORE! We sort of cheated the system and got on both without waiting long at all. (I'll share that story below)

Apart from exploring Pandora, we also went on the safari, my favorite, and Expedition Everest. For lunch we tried out Satu'li Canteen, the new restaurant in Pandora. I had a kid's Chopped Wood-Grilled Chicken Bowl, sooo good!

Please excuse the crowded backgrounds in these photos, I wanted the fun waterfall in the back and this isn't exactly the emptiest part of the park! Ha ha.

Sweatshirt: Uniqlo x Disney,  Jeans: Mother (Marshalls), Boots: Vince Camuto 'Davilla' (Marshalls), Bag: Disney x Coach 'Patricia' with Mickey ears, Sunglasses: Ray Ban 'Erika'

Navigating Pandora

Fast Passes

You can use fast passes on rides in Pandora BUT since the park is so new you are only allowed to use it on one ride in your first 3 fast passes. We kind of beat the system on our trip. Here's how. I bought my sister's tickets a couple months before our trip (I was still waiting to decide on an annual pass) and when I did that I booked fast passes with her tickets with the plan to add myself and my friend on once we got our tickets.

I was able to snag a 9:15am for Na'vi River Journey but not Flight of Passage. Once I got my ticket I tried to add myself and we were unable to do that because too many people had fast passes. We kept my sister on it just in case and on that morning we headed to the ride and explained that we were in a group and were supposed to ride together and the man running the fast pass line generously let us all go on. One ride down!

After that we had to do 2 more fast passes before we would be able to get one for Flight of Passage because you can't do both as part of your first 3. So we used them on a ride in Dino-Land and then for the Nemo show (but we didn't actually watch the show, we just tapped our magic bands to use the fast pass and left the line because we didn't have an hour to waste on the show. After that we miraculously got fast passes for Flight of Passage at 1:15! We must have gotten very lucky and caught them adding new ones at the right time.

Flight of Passage was AMAZING! I won't spoil it for those of you that want to be surprised when riding it but I will say there is no other ride like it. The experience is so cool and I would definitely wait in a long line to ride it again! Maybe not 3 hours, but I could do 2. (I have a bad back so standing in long lines is pretty grueling after a while.)

Day 3 was our big day! We got to Magic Kingdom at 9am and stayed until midnight. The park closed at 6pm for the general public and from 7-12 we enjoyed Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party with less crowds! Our first stop of the day was The Little Mermaid ride followed by breakfast at Be Our Guest. I was able to snag reservations for us there the day before thanks to people cancelling reservations. I had been checking almost every day to see if any popped up.

After breakfast we went from ride to ride until it was time for Mickey's Christmas Party. Before the party we had a much coveted reservation for dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table. I'll share more about that below! Then during the party we watched a couple shows, part of the parade and the Christmas fireworks show! We also made sure to go and get all the free cookies, hot chocolate and pretzels at different locations throughout the park! There were also character photograph spots throughout the park but we decided to focus more on enjoying tasty snacks.

Cardigan: Banana Republic, Mickey Reindeer Sweater: Etsy, Jeans: Mother (Marshalls), Boots: Vince Camuto 'Davilla' (Marshalls), Bag: Disney x Coach 'Patricia' with Mickey ears



And now on to my favorite part of the day! Dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table. As I mentioned last week, reservations are really hard to come by so it was a Christmas miracle! Here's how it works:

• Show up at your reservation time and check in
• Head into a room in the castle to get a photo taken with Cinderella
• Sit down and enjoy your surroundings until your name is called
• Head upstairs to the beautiful dining room and take your seat
• Order your dinner - you get a drink, first course, entree and dessert with your meal. I had the Castle Salad, Pan-Seared All Natural Chicken and "The Clock Strikes Twelve"
• Take photos with various princesses - we had Snow White, Aurora, Jasmine and Ariel
• Get your magic wand (or sword) and make a wish during the Wish Ceremony

Day 2 of our trip was dedicated to the Epcot International Festival of the Holidays and a quick stop at Hollywood Studios to ride Star Tours and see their Christmas themed firework show, Jingle Bell, Jingle BAM. We also made time to meet the adorable BB-8. Such a cutie. I wanted to snag a photo with Chewbaca as well but we ran out of time. Next trip! Unfortunately we weren't there for Star Wars Galactic Nights or the nighttime spectacular, they were announced after we had already booked our trip. Such a shame!

I made a list of all the fun holiday treats I wanted to try at each of the countries at Epcot but ended up just sharing a slice of Yule Log from France. We had so much we wanted to do in not much time, so we skipped a lot of snacking opportunities. This food blog has a list of everything available if you are headed to Epcot over the holidays!

For each day at Disney I made sure to wear an on-theme outfit. I had almost forgotten about this cute Bambi sweater I got for Christmas a couple years ago. It was perfect for this slightly less cold day (with a bodysuit underneath.) He looks like he's ready for Christmas with his red sequin wreath.

Top: LC Lauren Conrad x Disney (Kohl's), Jeans: M.i.h Jeans 'Farrah' Tomboy cropped jeans (Net-a-Porter), Boots: Vince Camuto 'Davilla' (Marshalls), Sunglasses: Ray Ban 'Erika'